Why in news?
The Ministry of Tribal Affairs, in collaboration with UNICEF India, launched the TALASH (Tribal Aptitude, Life Skills and Self‑Esteem Hub) initiative in July 2025 to support holistic development of tribal students in Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs).
Objectives
- Promote self‑awareness and personality development among tribal youth.
- Enable informed career choices through aptitude‑based assessments.
- Build critical life skills such as emotional intelligence, communication and decision‑making.
- Train teachers and mentors to guide students effectively.
Key features
- Psychometric testing: Using the NCERT’s Tamanna model, the platform assesses students’ aptitudes and produces personalised career cards.
- Career counselling: Modules provide information about career paths aligned with each student’s strengths and interests.
- Life skills training: Programmes on self‑esteem, conflict resolution and emotional health foster resilience and value‑based growth.
- Teacher training portal: Teachers from 75 EMRSs have already been trained; the portal encourages peer learning.
- Phased rollout: By the end of 2025 the platform aims to reach all 1.38 lakh students across 28 states and 8 UTs.
Significance
- TALASH leverages technology to bridge academic, emotional and aspirational gaps for tribal students, often in remote areas.
- It aligns with the National Education Policy 2020’s vision of holistic and inclusive education.
- By boosting confidence and providing career guidance, it can improve educational outcomes and socio‑economic mobility for tribal communities.